[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO DR. NEVILLE A. PARKER, Ph.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, as our nation celebrates Black History 
Month and its theme ``The Quest for Black Citizenship in the 
Americas,'' it is with great pleasure that I rise to honor Dr. Neville 
A. Parker, Ph.D., an African-American who has devoted himself to the 
advancement of science and to broadening the participation of under-
represented minorities in the fields of mathematics, technology and 
engineering. Dr. Parker enjoys a distinguished career in international 
transportation and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to 
professionals in developing countries.
  Dr. Parker's academic training in engineering began in 1965, when he 
received a B.E. in Civil Engineering from the City University of New 
York. He later received an M.E. in Transportation Engineering and a 
Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Cornell University in 1966 and 1971, 
respectively. Dr. Parker is a Registered Professional Engineer in both 
the United States and the United Republic of Tanzania.
  After receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Parker began his illustrious 
professional career by teaching Civil Engineering at Howard University. 
He remained in this post until 1979, the last three years of which he 
spent at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania as a Senior 
Fulbright Scholar. Dr. Parker's talents and leadership were immediately 
recognized, and soon after arriving he became the Head of the 
Department of Civil Engineering. Dr. Parker's work on engineering 
capacity building in Tanzania and East and South Africa began with the 
delivery of a keynote address at the Sixth Pan-African Conference in 
1974. Over the subsequent twelve years, Dr. Parker founded and 
coordinated several highly regarded professional associations, and 
authored policy documents, studies, and proposals that drew much needed 
funding to Africa and transformed the field.
  In 1989, Dr. Parker returned to the City College of New York as the 
Herbert G. Kayser Professor of Civil Engineering and the Director of 
the City University of New York (CUNY) Institute for Transportation 
Systems. In this capacity, Dr. Parker set the bar for innovative work 
with professionals in developing countries through the implementation 
of training programs and collaborations. From 1987 to 1998, Dr. Parker 
served as Chief Coordinator for the International Road Federation's 
annual Executive Conferences on Road Asset Management, attracting over 
three hundred executive level transportation professionals from more 
than sixty countries across the globe.
  Dr. Parker is widely published in international journals and is the 
co-author of a foundational textbook on highway engineering challenges 
in Africa. His multiple leadership roles in national and international 
professional associations are a testament to the respect that so many 
of Dr. Parker's peers have for him.
  Notwithstanding a demanding travel and research schedule, Dr. Parker 
has retained a steadfast commitment to the education of CUNY students. 
His transportation infrastructure management courses and supervision of 
Masters projects and doctoral dissertations are creating a new 
generation of scholars and practitioners that, following in Dr. 
Parker's footsteps, will make their own unique contributions for the 
betterment of our society. Throughout his professional career, Dr. 
Parker has worked tirelessly to increase minority participation in the 
sciences. He was Project Director of the Research Careers for Minority 
Scholars program at City College from 1989-1997 and is the current 
Director of the New York City Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority 
Participation program.
  Dr. Parker has admirably extended his expertise, resources, and 
commitment to a myriad of efforts to improve his local Harlem 
community. A vital member of the Manhattan Borough President Office's 
Go Green East Harlem Steering Committee, Dr. Parker is currently 
developing a simulation model to evaluate the public health impacts of 
transportation, particularly truck and bus operations, in a larger 
effort to improve air quality. He previously served as the Co-Chair of 
the Transportation and Economic Development Committee for the 
Empowerment Zone application, and is recognized for his research on 
public empowerment in transportation decision-making processes.
  Well-respected among his peers, Dr. Parker has received numerous 
awards including: the Black Engineer of the Year-Outstanding Educator 
Award (1994); the Giant in Science Award (1996); and the Outstanding 
Achievement in Education Award (2003). He was recognized in 2006 as one 
of the top 25 African Americans in education, science and medicine by 
New York's Who's Who.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Parker is a role model and an inspiration to us 
all. His passion for the progress of science and his commitment to 
expanding opportunities in this field to under-represented communities 
is commendable. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Neville 
A. Parker.

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